STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State defensive back Kasyus Kurns is among the leaders in the nation in interceptions, and he has been recognized as one of the top defensive players in the country this season.  
 
Stats Perform announced Kurns is on its list of 30 finalists for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
 
The award, in its 31st season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past Buchanan recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen. Central Arkansas' David Walker was last season's winner.
 
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Kurns has five interceptions on the season, plus three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry, two tackles for loss, and 26 total tackles in 10 games played. In the regular season, he had the second most interceptions per game in the FCS at 0.5 per game, and the tied-second most interceptions in the nation overall.
 
One of his most memorable games of the season was at Army, where he had two interceptions and a fumble recovery to boost Tarleton State over the Black Knights in West Point. He was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
 
He has the tied-eighth most interceptions in a single-season in program history, and the most since Devin Hafford had six in 2021.
 
The full 2025 Buck Buchanan Award finalists list can be found below:
 
Defensive Linemen
Lando Brown, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
55 tackles (30 solo), 18.0 TFL (97 yards), 14.0 sacks (89), 11 QBH (11 games)
David Hoage, West Georgia, Grad, 6-3, 250 (United Athletic Conference)
62 tackles (33 solo), 20.0 TFL (116 yards), 8.5 sacks (79), 1 PBU, 7 QBH, 3 FF (11 games)
Robert Holz, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 6-3, 255 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
53 tackles (23 solo), 16.5 TFL (66 yards), 11.0 sacks (59), 2 FF, 11 QBH (12 games)
Quincy Ivory, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 239 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
64 tackles (31 solo), 13.5 TFL (71 yards), 6.0 sacks (39), 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 5 QBH (11 games)
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-3, 280 (Southland Conference)
38 tackles (17 solo), 12.0 TFL (63 yards), 8.0 sacks (55 yards), 4 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis, Grad, 6-3, 265 (Big Sky Conference)
46 tackles (34 solo), 15.0 TFL (50 yards), 9.0 sacks (39), 3 FF, 2 FR, 5 QBH, 3 PBU, 1 BK (11 games)
Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-So., 6-3, 264 (Southern Conference)
79 tackles (42 solo), 23.0 TFL (132 yards), 14.5 sacks (97 yards), 2 FF, 9 QBH, 2 PBU, 1 BK (12 games)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, So., 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)
41 tackles (23 solo), 20.0 TFL (109 yards), 11.5 sacks (89), 2 FF, 1 FR, 22 QBH, 3 PBU (11 games)
 
Linebackers
Sean Allison, Drake, Sr., 6-0, 235 (Pioneer Football League)
120 tackles (59 solo), 8.0 TFL (14 yards), 2.0 sacks (7), 2 INT, 3 PBU (11 games)
Luke Banbury, William & Mary, Grad, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
137 tackles (70 solo), 5.5 TFL (17 yards), 2.0 sacks (12), 1 FR, 1 QBH, 6 PBU (12 games)
James Conway, Fordham, Grad, 6-2, 235 (Patriot League)
159 tackles (72 solo), 8.0 TFL (27 yards), 5.0 sacks (22), 1 FF, 1 INT, 3 PBU (12 games)
Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 237 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
86 tackles (40 solo), 13.5 TFL (43 yards), 6.5 sacks (28), 1 INT (TD), 2 PBU, 7 QBH, 2 FR (1 TD), 1 FF (12 games)
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230 (CAA Football)
71 tackles (42 solo), 13.0 TFL (50 yards), 6.0 sacks (33), 8 QBH, 1 PBU (11 games)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 220 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
102 tackles (53 solo), 14.0 TFL (55 yards), 4.0 sacks (34), 3 FF, 1 INT, 5 QBH, 3 PBU, 1 TD/1 safety (12 games)
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 221 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
64 tackles (35 solo), 9.0 TFL (27), 3.0 sacks (19), 1 FR, 4 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Rashon Myles Jr., Abilene Christian, Jr., 6-1, 220 (United Athletic Conference)
104 tackles (50 solo), 8.0 TFL (32 yards), 2.5 sacks (16), 5 FR, 1 INT, 3 PBU (12 games)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
126 tackles (12.0 yards), 12.0 TFL (23 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 QBH, 6 PBU, 1 safety (12 games)
Tyler Ochojski, Lehigh, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Patriot League)
56 tackles (35 solo), 12.0 TFL (90 yards), 10.0 sacks (84), 1 FF, 1 FR, 7 QBH, 4 PBU (12 games)
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243 (CAA Football)
61 tackles (31 solo), 17.5 TFL (79 yards), 9.5 sacks (64), 1 FF, 11 QBH, 3 PBU (12 games)
Jaydon Southard, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-1, 225 (Southland Conference)
110 tackles (48 solo), 10.5 TFL (40 yards), 2.5 sacks (22 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 3 QBH, 2 PBU (11 games)
Jack Stoll, Central Connecticut State. 6-0, 230 (NEC Football)
86 tackles (50 solo), 15.5 TFL (41 yards), 1 PBU 1 BK (12 games)
 
Defensive Backs
Ty Bartrum, Harvard, Sr., 6-1, 200 (Ivy League)
72 tackles (20 solo), 0.5 TFL (1 yard), 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 QBH, 3 PBU (10 games)
Kimal Clark, Indiana State, Sr., 5-10, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
145 tackles (59 solo), 4.5 TFL (25 yards), 2.0 sacks (21), 2 FF, 2 FR, 1 QBH, 5 PBU (12 games)
Caden Dowler, Montana State, Jr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
78 tackles (50 solo), 5.5 TFL (16 yards), 1.0 sack (6), 2 FF, 4 INT (2 TDs), 4 PBU (12 games)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
39 tackles (26 solo), 1.5 TFL (3 yards), 2 INTs, 10 PBU, 2 QBH (11 games)
Abu Kamara, Yale, Jr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
65 tackles (32 solo), 6.0 TFL (26 yards), 3.5 sacks (23), 1 FF, 3 FR (1 TD), 2 INT (1 TD), 1 QBH, 8 PBU, 1 BK (10 games)
Kasyus Kurns, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-10, 170 (United Athletic Conference)
26 tackles (15 solo), 2.0 TFL (4 yards), 1 FR, 5 INT, 1 QBH, 3 PBU (10 games)
Maximus Pulley, Wofford, 5th Year, 5-11, 200 (Southern Conference)
85 tackles (41 solo), 2.5 TFL (4 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 INT (2 TDs), 5 PBU, 1 BK (11 games)
Nate Robinson Jr., Marist, So., 6-1, 200 (Pioneer Football League) 
64 tackles (30 solo), 1.5 TFL (2), 1 FR, 4 INT, 11 PBU (12 games)
Jarod Washington, South Carolina State, Sr., 6-2, 188 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
32 tackles (29 solo), 1.0 TFL (3 yards), 1 FF, 2 INT (1 TD), 20 PBU (12 games)